This is the first Sunday in Lent. I love the readings for this Sunday, especially the gospel. In today’s reading we get the story of Jesus being driven out into the wilderness. The place where people did not usually go, because wild animals lived there and there were no provisions, no food, probably very little water… It was not a desert hot spot or the top holiday destination. The wilderness was avoided at all costs. Bad things happened to people there.
The interesting thing to these texts is, it is God who puts Jesus there. Which makes me think of the Lord’s Prayer, “And lead us not into temptation” Jesus said this in the prayer as a request, because he knows God will lead us into temptation. He asked that we ask we not get lead there. However he then adds, “But deliver us from evil.” It is as if Jesus knows we will be tested, and yes sometimes by God, and when we are we will need God’s help to be delivered from evil. It is not that the test is bad, we have the power through God to make it out, by his deliverance. His deliverance is seen all through the Bible…
The best thing about these texts for today for me though is something hidden. Satan asks Jesus 3 questions after he has been fasting in the wilderness for 40 days. He tries to tempt Jesus into turning from God and follow Satan. So Satan asks, “If you are the Son of God…” This is interesting to me. Does Satan not know who Jesus is, or is Satan trying to get Jesus to wonder or doubt who he is? “If you are the Son of God command these stones become bread.” You are hungry, so make yourself a biscuit and then follow me. But we know that food is not the only thing required for us to live a long and healthy spirit filled life. “If you are the son of God, throw yourself from the pinnacle, because God’s angels will come and rescue you.” If, if. The littlest biggest word in the English language. Meant to cause doubt or reflection. However the interesting part to this text and this word is its multiple meanings in the Greek. ei is the word in Greek and yes it does mean if, but it also means since. Now was Satan asking a question or making a very bold statement? Was it “If you are the Son of God,” or was it “Since you are the Son of God?” See the difference? One questions Jesus very nature, one defines who he is and what is is able to do. One sets him up for doubt, one assigns him a role in all of the cosmic reality. You have to believe that Satan knew he was the Son of God, otherwise why ask the questions he did. If Satan believed him to be one of us, he could have just brought some food along and offered it to us if we would follow, and most of us after not eating for 40 days would have said, “give me those brussels sprouts, and where are we going?” Satan knew who Jesus was, is and will always be… Do we, or do we know the Jesus we want him to be?
aSacredRebel 